Monday 24th August, Derby Shopping day today.I wanted to get our vodafone sim cards sorted and the girls were dead keen that we helped Robin buy some clothes. Apparently someone had given her some money on a card at Debenhams, a big clothing store in the middle of Derby. Along the way we went to a couple of op shops. Altho' the idea was to get Robin new clothes from D's in Oxfam we saw a lovely green skirt, it had a really interesting hem line and was her size, only 5 pounds. I had to bully her in to it [View Full Entry]

---

---

Sunday 23 August, Derby As Rob had only been to see Mim once yesterday she decided not to go to church in the morning and to visit Mim then. Cathy (friend) was coming for lunch and they had decided to have a traditional Sunday roast - Ann and I shoed Rob away and told her we'd do it. It is so nice to be able to do things for her - it's not a lot, dishes, some meals, hanging out the washing, helping with the pets - Rob works sooo hard. Ann & I went over our photos and we got [View Full Entry]

---

---

22 August, (Saturday) Derby Jerry has the next 2 weeks off. Today he drove us around the countryside. Kirsten had been staying with Jerry's cousin, Nessa, at their pub in Sheffield and we went to pick her up. First we went to Chesterfield, Jerry was just going to drive past but I was keen for a photo (parking was a huge pain but eventually we managed it and I got a great photo of the Crooked Spire on St Mary's church apparently caused by the devil sitting on it! Then we were off to Sheffield. Nessa is just lovely - so [View Full Entry]

---

---

21 August (Friday) 5 am, DerbyBy 9pm just could not keep the eyes open. Rob & Jerry went off to visit Mim, good thing they did'n't stay home to be sociable coz Ann & I were neither. Woke just before 3am. Ann had gone - not sure where she is - I suspect she stole a bed in Kirsten's room to escape the snoring! Pip was due home tonight but we weren't awake to see her - she was going to sleep in the lounge (Ann & I have her room). Later... It was lovely to meet Pip she is a [View Full Entry]

---

---

19 August, Derby, 1:30 pm-ish.After a slow grinding progression along record- long queues at immigration (even those who travelled there regularly claimed it was much slower than usual), we headed for the exit. We knew our brother-in-law, Jerry, was meeting us but had thought Robin would probably not come and be visiting their sick daughter in hospital instead. Ann was the first to spot Jerry amongst the sea of faces then "Robin's there too" at that the tears just welled up in my eyes - there were huge tear-filled hugs all around and I realised it had been 9 years since [View Full Entry]

---

---

The frangipani smelt magnificent! see prev entry [View Full Entry]

---

---

18 August, 5.15 nz time, somewhere over queensland I was doing last minute stuff getting ready to go until a ridiculous hr this am. So feeling sleepy here on the plane. Mum & Dad took us to the airport and saw us off which was lovely. I was driving the 2nd half of the trip & intended to show Mum the route via the Manurewa exit. What a twit I missed it and drove straight past! Wonder how Mum managing on the trip back??? We have been flying for about 3.5 hrs. Had a meal at the slightly odd time of [View Full Entry]

---

---

This is where I'm starting from. [View Full Entry]

---

---